Disney

Blu-ray Review: Double Feature of ‘Brother Bear’ Movies

Brother Bear

CHICAGO – In the Disney canon, few recent films are less-remembered than “Brother Bear,” a movie that came out as acclaim and animation legacy was transitioning from the Mouse House to Pixar. It’s one of the last hand-drawn animation films in the history of Disney and came at a time when CGI was about to dominate. Only ten years old, it looks more like an early ’90s product. And yet it was huge. It made over $250 million worldwide. So, it clearly has serious fans who will love to own it and its straight-to-DVD sequel, “Brother Bear 2,” in HD.

Blu-ray Review: Solid Release For Entertaining ‘Wreck-It Ralph’

Wreck It Ralph

CHICAGO – Disney’s hit “Wreck-It Ralph,” recently released on Blu-ray and DVD, fits one of the most important criteria for a parent considering picking up a kid’s movie to own — replay value. As anyone with kids can tell you, if you buy something, you best be ready to watch it over and over and over again. And “Ralph” holds up surprisingly well. I’m still a little surprised it received the level of acclaim it did with some even suggesting it should win the Oscar (we all know that should have been “ParaNorman”) but it’s a good movie to throw on if your kids need a distraction with a good message. And the Blu-ray includes the Oscar winner for Best Animated Short, the great “Paperman.”

Blu-ray Review: Diamond Edition of Timeless ‘Peter Pan’

Peter Pan

CHICAGO – Disney continues their stellar HD upgrades of their most important films with this month’s release of the absolutely timeless “Peter Pan.” Complete with new special features and an absolutely perfect HD transfer, it’s another great addition to the most important line of animated Blu-ray releases on the market.

Blu-ray Review: Tim Burton’s Return to Playful Form with ‘Frankenweenie’

Frankenweenie (cropped)

CHICAGO – Tim Burton used to be one of my favorite filmmakers. His first eight films, from 1985 to 1999 — “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure,” “Beetlejuice,” “Batman,” “Edward Scissorhands,” “Batman Returns,” “Ed Wood,” “Mars Attacks!,” and “Sleepy Hollow” — made him one of my favorite filmmakers alive. And then he fell from the pedestal on which I put him, with over a decade of disappointment. I heard he had returned to form by expanding on one of his first visions in “Frankenweenie,” now available on Blu-ray and DVD. Almost.

Blu-ray Review: Bizarre Misfire ‘The Odd Life of Timothy Green’ Falls Flat

The Odd Life of Timothy Green Blu-ray

CHICAGO – “The Odd Life of Timothy Green” is the sort of extravagantly wrong-headed misfire that perhaps only could’ve been made by talented people. The director is Peter Hedges, an accomplished screenwriter best known for adapting his excellent book, “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape,” for the big screen. The ensemble cast reads like a roll call of America’s most reliable character actors.

Blu-ray Review: Beautiful ‘Finding Nemo’ Was Made For HD

CHICAGO – Disney/Pixar’s “Finding Nemo” disappointed somewhat when it was recently re-released in 3D with grosses that paled in comparison to 3D reboots of “Beauty & the Beast” and “The Lion King.” Perhaps it’s because the movie was so beautiful in two dimensions that fans didn’t think it needed a third. The new Blu-ray release in time for the holiday season certainly makes the case as this is undeniably one of Pixar’s absolute best.

HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 10 Free ‘Finding Nemo’ DVDs with Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks

CHICAGO – In the latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: DVD with our unique social giveaway technology, we have 10 free DVDs up for grabs for the highly anticipated home entertainment release of the beloved Disney/Pixar film “Finding Nemo” starring Ellen DeGeneres!

Blu-ray Review: Holidays Are Brighter with ‘The Muppet Christmas Carol’

Muppet Christmas Carol

CHICAGO – Has The Muppets comeback taken with the general populous? The wonderful movie from last year didn’t quite turn into the box office phenomenon that it deserved to be and I worry that we may have to wait for another comeback for Kermit, Miss Piggy, Gonzo, and the rest of the gang. Until then, satisfy yourself and teach your kids about these characters with the 20th anniversary edition of “The Muppet Christmas Carol,” new to Blu-ray.

Film Feature: Five Things We Want From ‘Star Wars, Episode VII’

CHICAGO – There was a time when the idea of actual sequels to George Lucas’ original “Star Wars” trilogy seemed like the most fantastic (and unlikely) of all the fanboy fantasy fodder in the multiverse. How could chapters VII through IX work? How do you follow the “teddy bear picnic” ending of “Return of the Jedi”?

Blu-ray Review: Diamond Edition of Disney's Beloved ‘Cinderella’

Cinderella

CHICAGO – It’s the season for an increasing number of titles on the Blu-ray New Releases shelf that are vying for a spot on your holiday wish list and Disney movies make an appearance every season. Every year, Disney reaches into the vault and pulls out another classic, giving it an HD upgrade and new special features. This year’s lucky bunch are the fans of “Cinderella,” an undeniable gem from the Disney canon given a glorious video restoration and accompanied with hours of special features, including a new short film called “Tangled Ever After” to appeal to fans of the surprising hit “Tangled.”

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TV, DVD, BLU-RAY & THEATER REVIEWS

  • Manhunt

    CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on March 21st, 2024, reviewing the new streaming series “Manhunt” – based on the bestseller by James L. Swanson – currently streaming on Apple TV+.

  • Topdog/Underdog, Invictus Theatre

    CHICAGO – When two brothers confront the sins of each other and it expands into a psychology of an entire race, it’s at a stage play found in Chicago’s Invictus Theatre Company production of “Topdog/Underdog,” now at their new home at the Windy City Playhouse through March 31st, 2024. Click TD/UD for tickets/info.

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